Sacrificing the turkey for the money
Stores tarnish the meaning of Thanksgiving by moving their Black Friday sales to start on Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving is a holiday that is cherished by many Americans. It is a day full of stuffing our faces with turkey and mashed potatoes, cheering on our favorite football team, watching parades on television, and valuing special moments while being surrounded by family and friends. Right after the last bite of that warm, mouthwatering pumpkin pie, thoughts of waking up early to be first in line for the big sales take over. It seems silly that right after people have given thanks for the blessings they have received in life, they are ready to rush to the stores and let their wants overpower their appreciation for what they already have.
Black Friday marks the beginning of holiday shopping in America, and traditionally begins bright and early on the day after Thanksgiving. However, many retail stores are starting to shy away from this tradition, and instead opening on Thanksgiving Day. According to 24/7 Wall St, some of these stores include Kmart, which will open at 7 p.m., Dick’s Sporting Goods at 6 p.m., Macy’s at 5 p.m., Old Navy at 4 p.m., and JCPenney at 3 p.m. To consumers, it gives more time to shop and an opportunity to avoid the crowd, but for retail workers it only cuts into their celebration. While most are sitting at a dinner table and invested in deep conversations, retail workers will not be able to experience this special occasion and have to endure the long hours.
Thanksgiving is also a time where we come together despite our differences. During this time, we’re able to share our triumphs and struggles within the past year. In return, we look for support and ambition to get us through the rest of the year. T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods recognizes these important components that come along with Thanksgiving. They launched a commercial announcing that they will be closed for Thanksgiving, stressing the point that during this holiday “family comes first.” The commercial promoted the slogan “Bring Back the Holidays” to send out a message to families and stores that Black Friday is not the significant part of Thanksgiving.
REI, a prominent retail store for the outdoors, went down in retail history last year by starting a new tradition with their #OptOutside campaign. REI made the decision of closing its 149 stores and temporarily ceasing their online sales on Black Friday. The 12,000 employees still received pay while the company encouraged them and customers to spend the day outside. This year, REI plans to continue this campaign to further invigorate the meaning of Thanksgiving.
The raging war of customers fighting over a piece of merchandise completely overshadows the purpose of Thanksgiving. According to LoyaltyOne, 50% of the 1,000 surveyed Americans said stores should close on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is supposed to showcase the strength of family and the results love can bring, not how many items you can get on sale. Having a sister who has to work on Thanksgiving exemplifies why stores should close on that special day. My sister and I have a bond that goes deep, and knowing that our time has to be cut short on a day where family is everything creates a small hole in my heart. It is time for us to bring back the tradition of Black Friday actually falling on Friday and not ending precious family time on Thanksgiving.
